GOT: Chapter 265/266

Chapter 265: Open Eyes and Close Eyes

"No one broke the rules, my lord," Eddard had anticipated this and showed no sign of panic. He replied without hesitation, "The Night's Watch did not participate in the war. Only I accompanied the men from the Gift who went south this time, and I swear I did not take part in any combat, not even so much as touching a weapon."

"Stop playing word games. The Gift is the Night's Watch's territory. The people you brought marched under the banner of the Gift Army. Anyone could see that the Night's Watch was involved. And as for participating in combat—given your current rank, it's only natural for you to avoid direct fighting."

"Please allow me to explain the entire sequence of events," Eddard continued. "Because the Night's Watch accepted the Wildlings, the population of the Gift surged, and severe food shortages forced us to seek support from the North. Not long ago, the Logistics Department organized a grain convoy, intending to circle the entire North to collect as much food as possible. As the convoy approached Glover territory, it received word that Deepwood Motte had been seized by a group of unidentified pirates."

"'Unidentified pirates'? That's what the Night's Watch calls Ironborn invaders now? How interesting." Robb Stark's expression twitched slightly. He immediately realized how Eddard was going to frame this—just like how King Robert had called the Brotherhood Without Banners 'rebels,' Eddard intended to define the Ironborn in a way that would legitimize his own actions. "Then you 'conveniently' retook Deepwood Motte, captured a few prisoners, and upon interrogation learned that the pirates were Ironborn. Since you didn't know they were Greyjoys beforehand, it doesn't count as interfering in the Seven Kingdoms' internal affairs?"

"You could say that. There's a saying where I come from—'Ignorance is not a sin.' But there's more to it. A large migration came down from beyond the Wall about a month ago. Fleeing the winter and the White Walkers, the Free Folk arrived at the Wall en masse. During their crossing, they launched an assault on the gates. The Night's Watch was short on men and found it hard to resist, so we called for help from the Mountain Clans. Thousands responded and were stationed along the Wall," Eddard explained, then raised a finger. "And coincidentally, within my grain convoy, there happened to be a thousand Mountain Clansmen. The task of attacking Deepwood Motte fell largely to them."

"What are you trying to say? Weren't these Mountain Clansmen brought south by you, the Night's Watch's Chief Logistics Officer?"

"Legally speaking, the lands the Mountain Clans inhabit are part of the North. Their deployment along the Wall was merely temporary, and only at the invitation of the Night's Watch. They were simply providing manpower. They never took the black. They merely moved from the mountains to the Gift. They still owe allegiance to House Stark," Eddard answered calmly. "As your subjects, upon seeing Deepwood Motte under your rule occupied by a band of pirates, isn't it natural for them to rise up in righteous anger? As for me and the Night's Watch Logistics Security Team, we were merely... offering some insignificant military guidance and support out of friendship."

The Mountain Clans were his subjects. Reminded of this, Robb Stark did recall the fact. These so-called Mountain Clans were in truth Wildlings who had settled south of the Wall. The rulers of the North had long employed a policy of appeasement and inclusion to manage them: recognizing their chieftains as minor lords, granting them the status of Earls. As long as they acknowledged Stark rule, sent some modest tribute in peacetime, and a few warriors during wartime, their internal affairs were left alone.

These Mountain Clans were technically on par with houses like Umber and Karstark, but their allegiance to House Stark was far weaker. None of the Lords of Winterfell had ever mobilized the clans on such a large scale as Eddard had just done. And Robb Stark, who had hurriedly assumed his father's mantle as Warden of the North and had never personally visited the Mountain Clans' lands, knew only what his father Eddard and some seasoned bannermen had told him about these "nominal subjects."

...

"'Insignificant military guidance and support'? Without a complete command system, these Mountain Clansmen would have trouble even marching in formation from their villages to Deepwood Motte, let alone capturing it in a single assault and taking Balon Greyjoy's daughter prisoner."

Eddard—or more likely his subordinates—had clearly exercised full command. Robb understood this perfectly. Still, he had to admit, the Night's Watch's excuse sounded plausible. He stroked the short beard he had deliberately grown, and his stern expression gradually softened. "I see."

Sensing the opening, Eddard struck while the iron was hot. "So, to summarize the matter—the Northmen acted on their own initiative to repel the invaders. I, a Night's Watch man, merely happened to be present at a critical moment, assisted a little, and once again played the role of a Night's Watch officer accompanying the army to receive prisoners."

Robb stared at Eddard for a while longer, then finally couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from curling up. After a few months apart, this man's ability to spout nonsense had clearly improved.

The explanation sounded plausible enough to fool common folk, but anyone with access to decent information wouldn't be so easily duped. Intuitively, Robb felt that Eddard had bent the rules. But emotionally, he couldn't bring himself to object. The lords of the other Six Kingdoms could certainly criticize Eddard for overstepping, but Robb himself had gained too much from it. What right did he have to take their side?

"Very well. I'll tentatively accept your explanation," Robb said. He wasn't fooled—he knew Eddard was forcing a justification—but so what? The North had clearly benefited from the Night's Watch bending the rules, and now they had an explanation they could present to the rest of the realm. That was enough. "I owe you a favor. But what you did did break the rules, after all. Don't go around talking about it. I'll announce that it was the Mountain Clans who helped my North retake Deepwood Motte."

"Of course. My trip south was solely to purchase grain and supplies from the northern lords. As for anything else, I know nothing."

"Mmm." Robb was satisfied with Eddard's reply and nodded. One man spoke falsehoods with his eyes wide open, the other turned a blind eye to it. And just like that, the most flagrant violation by the Night's Watch in centuries was quietly swept under the rug. "This place stinks terribly. I'll have to stay in the North's military camp tonight. Let's stop here for now."

What, that's it? Eddard was truly stunned. He still had much to discuss with Robb. He had rehearsed his speech and laid rhetorical traps, yet Robb had stopped just short of stepping into them?

"But my lord, regarding the Ironborn prisoners and surrendered soldiers, and the matter of resettling the Free Folk…"

"The prisoners captured by the Mountain Clans will be dealt with by the clans themselves. As for the ones who surrendered and offered to take the black, that's the Night's Watch's concern." Robb turned to descend from the city wall, leaving one final remark. "There are many things I want to discuss with you—about Bran, about the Free Folk your Night's Watch let in—but today's not the time. We've just reclaimed Caitlin Bay and defended our homeland. It's a day of victory, but I've got plenty left to handle. Today and tomorrow, the army will celebrate the victory, then disband and return home. I'll return to Winterfell as well. Since you'll be passing through Winterfell on your way back to the Wall, come see me then."

At this point, Eddard could no longer press him to talk further. A few more days to prepare wasn't a bad thing either. "Alright."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 266: Return to the Countryside?

The so-called decision made by the mountain clans on how to proceed essentially meant, "He won't interfere anymore. Let Aegor handle it himself." Although not all goals were achieved, at least the bottom line was upheld, and the promise to Asha was kept. It wasn't a total loss—of course, even if he had broken his promise, a captive wouldn't have been able to do anything about it.

As he watched the Young Wolf Lord's retreating back, Aegor suddenly realized: the boy now had the bearing of a Lord.

Identity, status, and experience can quickly alter a person's thoughts and how they deal with others. It was true for him, and it was true for Robb Stark.

...

By the time Caitlin Bay surrendered, it was already evening. The Northern army, stationed dozens of miles south of the fortress, naturally didn't have time to return home immediately via the long causeway. The next morning, at dawn, over ten thousand Northmen broke camp and spent most of the morning traversing the final stretch of the Neck and crossing Caitlin Bay. After a hearty lunch, the victory celebration began.

Winter was already approaching, but the temperature in the Neck—the boundary between North and South—was still above freezing. The Northern army's gathering point a few miles north of Caitlin Bay was bustling with activity. Over ten thousand Northmen had assembled in this familiar and safe place north of the Neck. Exhausted, they completely let down their guard, feasting, drinking, and bragging to anyone who would listen about the battles they'd fought alongside their lord.

These were veterans who had taken part in numerous sieges: Golden Tooth, Stagsfell, Oxcross, Burning Brand, and Crag. They had defeated the Tyrell army three times in field battles at Ryamsport, King's Landing, and Coppergate. They had plundered mining regions in the Westerlands, and had even looted villages and towns in the Reach on their way north from Storm's End.

The Northmen returned laden with gold, provisions, and glory. Though several thousand fewer than when they set out, every survivor was fortunate.

Even Aegor's Gift Army gained some recognition for having participated in the war. If word got out that the Night's Watch had meddled in the internal affairs of the Seven Kingdoms, it would be scandalous. However, after Robb Stark confirmed the official statement that the "mountain clans volunteered to fight" and deliberately omitted the fact that half of them were Wildlings, the Northmen's affinity toward this ally from the Gift was genuine. After weeks of failed assaults, no sane soldier or commander wanted to keep gnawing on a meatless, hard bone like Caitlin Bay. The sudden appearance of the Night's Watch and the Kraken's Daughter they brought, along with the successful surrender negotiations, came as a massive relief to everyone.


---

The celebration lasted from noon until midnight. Aegor roamed through the Northern army camp, drinking and chatting with countless Northmen and lords, picking up bits and pieces of news—some he didn't know, and some that differed slightly from what he thought he knew.

Lord Hoster Tully had passed away. Nearing seventy and bedridden for years, his death was not unexpected. This meant Robb's uncle, Edmure Tully, was now Lord of the Riverlands.

The "Last Targaryen," Daenerys Targaryen, seemed to be doing quite well in Slaver's Bay, far across the sea. Not only had she avoided the dire straits she faced in Meereen in the original timeline, but she was said to have taken control of Astapor and Yunkai, forming a kind of city-state alliance with Meereen. The latest reports said this Dragon Queen was currently engaged in negotiations and confrontations with several external forces that sought to help the great slave masters retake their cities—and was apparently enjoying herself.

As her three dragons continued to grow, the situation seemed to be stabilizing day by day, with little suspense.

Not only had the Westerlands refused to lift gold controls after the war, but Tyrion Lannister had seized the opportunity to expand his bank during the postwar rebuilding. Meanwhile, Ser Barristan Selmy loyally served as captain of the Kingsguard under Stannis Baratheon… And yet, without either of them, Daenerys was faring even better? Could it be that this Targaryen girl had more political talent than the two of them combined?

After deeper conversations with soldiers returning from the South, Aegor learned the reason: Petyr Baelish, the man he had sent across the Narrow Sea with a letter, had somehow become Daenerys's Hand of the Queen!

Without a doubt, when it came to helping an exiled princess reclaim her kingdom, Littlefinger was more effective than the Imp and the brave old knight combined. But how had that come to pass?

The world was truly descending into chaos. Aegor felt a wave of dizziness, unsure whether it was from the wine or the wholly unexpected news. But he quickly lost the energy to think further. After a few more drinks, the Northmen became even more enthusiastic, while the lighter drinkers fell into drunken stupors that soon turned to lust.

After finally shaking off a group of Northern men who insisted on calling him "brother," and dealing with a few drunken knights who tried to sneak into his camp to get a glimpse of the "Kraken's Daughter"—and perhaps do worse—this chaotic, lively day finally drew to a close.

...

The next day, the Northern army resumed its journey north. Along the way, like a rocket shedding boosters, lords and their forces gradually split off and returned to their lands: Manderly, Karstark, Locke, Dustin… One family after another, one contingent after another, broke away from the main host. By the time the army passed the Barrowlands and neared Seven City, most of the massive host had already dispersed. Even with Aegor's Gift Army and the captives counted, fewer than ten thousand remained.

This development had far more meaning to Aegor than news of the new Lord of the Riverlands, or even Daenerys's rising power in Slaver's Bay: the war between Stannis Baratheon and the possibly false Aegon Targaryen still raged in the South, yet Robb Stark had disbanded his army. This meant that the North would not march south again to fight for the Iron Throne after reclaiming its own lands.

Though Aegor believed Varys was the one who poisoned Eddard Stark, it was, at least publicly, the Tyrells who had killed Robb's father. Would the Young Wolf Lord truly abandon his quest for vengeance? Would the other Northmen accept that? In this era—especially in the sparsely populated North—raising an army was far slower than one might imagine. With Robb disbanding now, even if he wanted to call his banners again, it would take at least a month.

Without the North's involvement, and with the Lannisters of the Westerlands licking their wounds and turning inward, even with the Riverlands and the Vale continuing to support Stannis, the royalist forces were no longer strong enough to crush the Riverlands or wipe out the rebels. As winter approached, the war could not continue indefinitely. Even without detailed analysis, Aegor could sense it: Westeros was heading irreversibly toward a split into two.

Was this good or bad for his own plans? Aegor wasn't sure, but he was certain of one thing: if Robb Stark hadn't impulsively proposed to the Freys back then, and had instead approached the Tyrells cautiously and formed a marriage alliance, this war might never have had the chance to escalate in the first place. Of course, considering that he himself had enjoyed the Freys' fine food and drink, and even the "generous services" of their servants and cooks at the feast celebrating the victory over the Ironborn, he had no real right to criticize others for marrying the wrong in-laws.

Carrying heavy thoughts and worries, Aegor led his Grey Area citizens, trailing behind Robb Stark's Northern army, and once again arrived before the gates of Winterfell.

(To be continued.)